Any thoughts on 1986 DT 200?

[freewheelin frank]

I am considering buying one for the dirt and cross country, maybe the TAT. Any reviews would be great.

Thanks,

FF

[theMISSIONARY]

DT200's didn't change much over their life, they go well with some exhaust mods,air box and jetting(giving it a nice strong mid range "band") my local bike wrecker tells me they go better than the WR200 even if both have had mods done and so far in my experience they do!

the last one i used i got 17km/l out of it and that was my normal style of riding a mix of fast and slow

in the Bush they are light and easy to live with BUT dont expect it to be a KDX200 as they are slightly heavier and have poorer suspension and if i am not mistaken the American KDX was the Enduro model so the DT200 is more road trail orientated with its nice oil injection

if you can ride the bike and see what you think of it

we got them here in Aus from 1984-1999 the the DT230 from 1999-2004

[rufus]

The 200 was only sold in the USA for a couple of years. Parts may (will) be hard to come by. I would get a tagged KDX 200. Very reliable and parts, and aftermarket support, are easy to get.

[theMISSIONARY]

Originally Posted by rufus

The 200 was only sold in the USA for a couple of years. Parts may (will) be hard to come by. I would get a tagged KDX 200. Very reliable and parts, and aftermarket support, are easy to get.

If thats the case with the DT just get a KDX they are better in almost every way

[yondering]

I had a DT175 for a few years, just the older version of your DT200. Great bike, nice wide ratio transmission, and decent power for a small dual sport.

I would NOT consider long distance trips on it though, especially something like the TAT. These bikes don't do well at constant highway speeds. Mine would ping after a few minutes of any sustained speed above 50 mph, although it would hit almost 70 flat out.

[tHEtREV]

Originally Posted by theMISSIONARY

DT200's didn't change much over their life,

There was a big change at 89.
This is an 86.


It's the same as this 88.



And in 89 they went to this.

[Grreatdog]

Maybe I am getting senile, but I don't remember a DT200 ever being sold in the USA. In 1982 for the USA our two stroke DT175 turned into the four stroke XT200. By 1986 it would have been a TW200 or XT350. But Yamaha went all four stroke on our street legl bikes well before 1986. We did get the IT200 two stroke enduro. And finding one of those street legal would be fun.

[tdrrally]

i say go for it
if a guy run the dakar on a vespa
then why not TAT on dt200

[theMISSIONARY]

Originally Posted by tHEtREV

There was a big change at 89.
This is an 86.


It's the same as this 88.



And in 89 they went to this.

I probably said engine wise

[tHEtREV]

Engines are completely different, carby is on the cylinder on the pre 88, and on the crank case on the 89+

I have an old (non running) 84, and a WR200, I can't see any parts being interchangable.

Did you mean the tubes? Cause I'm pretty sure they are the same.

[lamotovita]

Originally Posted by Grreatdog

Maybe I am getting senile, but I don't remember a DT200 ever being sold in the USA.

You're not, it wasn't.
They were sold in Canada where parts should be availible. A few found their way to the U.S. where they're now mostly a novelty.

[gearhead86]

Originally Posted by freewheelin frank

I am considering buying one for the dirt and cross country, maybe the TAT. Any reviews would be great.

Thanks,

FF

This is the bike i regret selling the most. A great dual purpose, Light, great power for a 200 Dual purpose, good on fuel, great on tight single-track. Suspension was lacking though.

Very reliable too. I rode the snot out of mine for 3 years and it never missed a beat.

I didn't do any long distance on it though.

I sold it to a 14 yo kid that killed it within the month

[RideFreak]

Originally Posted by rufus

The 200 was only sold in the USA for a couple of years. Parts may (will) be hard to come by. I would get a tagged KDX 200. Very reliable and parts, and aftermarket support, are easy to get.

Taking a rare/obscure bike on long distance offroad ride is asking for an extended stay somewhere in BFE. The cost incurred getting stuck in a remote location can easily outweigh the difference in purchasing something a little newer and easier to obtain parts for.

The DT200 isn't listed on any of the US Yamaha OE parts sites that I just checked.

[theMISSIONARY]

Originally Posted by tHEtREV

Engines are completely different, carby is on the cylinder on the pre 88, and on the crank case on the 89+

I have an old (non running) 84, and a WR200, I can't see any parts being interchangable.

Did you mean the tubes? Cause I'm pretty sure they are the same.

Fine........Bastard!.....i'll pack my bags for Siberia and not get on the Internet again.........oh hang on they have it there too

[Old Fart At Play]

Originally Posted by freewheelin frank

I am considering buying one for the dirt and cross country, maybe the TAT. Any reviews would be great.

Thanks,

FF

The DT200 model was available in Canada though 1988. Reviews of the time considered it to be a playbike - decent engine, mediocre suspension. The DT200R was available here 1989 through 1996 and was possibly the finest truly street legal dual sport around. An excellent engine, similar acceleration to the 4-stroke 650's, 238 lbs dry, and pretty good suspension. Try to find one of those instead. Most engine parts interchange with the Yamaha 200cc 2-stroke ATV.

Many of these were successfull in enduros against real enduro bikes.